Antrim crisis demonstrates Causeway must stay
23 January 2012
Statement by TUV MLA for North Antrim, Jim Allister:-
“The out of control situation at Antrim Hospital – which is not the fault of the staff, but the result of the folly of funnelling unbearable numbers into Antrim as a result of the Mid Ulster and Whiteabbey closures – is an object lesson in why the Causeway must retain its full acute status.
“Anyone who thinks the Northern Trust could cope with just one acute hospital has lost touch with reality. Antrim is already at breaking point, if the Causeway was downgraded there would be meltdown in acute services in the Northern Board area. Instead of peddling the folly of downgrading the Causeway, Minister Poots needs to face the reality that it is indispensible to meeting the needs of the north east of the Province.
“It’s time local DUP politicians, including the MP for North Antrim, put loyalty to their constituents’ needs above loyalty to Poots’ folly and told him to back off. The Causeway must stay as a full acute hospital.”
